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Losing ground : environmental stress and world food prospects

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Losing ground : environmental stress and world food prospects / Erik P. Eckholm.

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Status	Format	Access	Call number	Item location
Status Request for on-site use Request scan How do I pick up this item and when will it be ready?	FormatBook/Text	AccessUse in library	Call numberS601.E24	Item locationOff-site

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Abstract: The loss of productive soil through erosion, salination, desertification, and other consequences of ecologically unsound land use is an environmental problem confronting a number of countries, particularly in the developing world. Ways in which food systems are being ecologically undermined are surveyed and analyzed. Concrete examples of serious ecological deterioration that is taking place through deforestration, overgrazing, soil erosion and abandonment, desertification, the silting of irrigation systems and reservoirs, and changes in frequency and severity of flooding are provided. The increased intensity of humanity is pressure on the land and short-sighted use practices are compounded by natural phenomena. Destruction of land decreases future world feeding capacity which increases the threat of both malnutrition and mental deficiency.

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